Friday, October 30, 2015

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads
by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail
your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them
to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in
Friday╒s
issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

DRIVERS- HELP WANTED - TRUCK DRIVERS- ATTN: OTR Drivers!
Looking for a great new opportunity? Great home time, Great starting pay, and
New equipment! Call today for more details 800-332-5551. Or visit our website
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Due to mission requirements and decreased manning, the 19th Comptroller Squadron’s Financial Services office is altering its hours of operation starting Wednesday, Nov. 4. The office will close the first Wednesday of every month to stay caught up on processing military pay and travel transactions. Contact unit first sergeants for financial emergencies during finance office closures.

Pets, MWD transport advisory for Osan Air Base

Effective immediately, the Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Passenger Terminal will not accept inbound pets or military working dogs during official Korean holidays, until further notice. The affected 2016 dates and holidays are Seollal Holiday, Feb. 8 and 10; Memorial Day, June 6; Liberation Day, Aug. 15; Mid-Autumn Festival, Sept. 14; and National Foundation Day, Oct. 3.

Month of the Military Family

November is Month of the Military Family and the Airman and Family Readiness Center marks the month with a Something For Everyone Extravaganza from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Warfit Track. The event features games and activities where participants earn points for prizes.

Prizes include trophies, bicycles and $500, $300 and $100 gift cards. A free lunch is served from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The day also includes a Littlest Warrior Pageant and We’ve Got Talent competitions that require signing up by Nov. 6. Call the A&FRC at 987-2667 to register. There will also be basketball and weight lifting competitions. Register for those events by sending an e-mail to afrc.events@gmail.com no later than Nov. 2. Registration must include unit name, contact number, team name and names of each member.

Retiree flu shots

Retirees ages 50 and over can get their flu shots at the 19th Medical Group Immunizations Clinic. The clinic is open 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call 987-2927 for more information.

Volunteers needed

Motivated volunteers are needed for the third annual Diversity Day slated for January. Planning meetings are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday in Bldg. 430 Passenger Room 1. The event will encompass all 10 federal observances, including Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Black History Month, and there are committees for each observance. For more information, email the event project officer, Capt. Tarah Mitchell, at tarah.mitchell.1@us.af.mil.

The most recent group of High-Altitude Airdrop Mission Support students completed their course’s final flight Oct. 21 from Little Rock Air Force Base and to add to the intensity of their mission the final flight is always under a blanket of stars.

HAAMS physiology technicians are required to fly aboard unpressurized missions above 20,000 feet. Their services are vital to aircrews executing at high altitude by combating the effects of altitude threats such as hypoxia, decompression sickness and trapped gases that could affect mission success.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy Stout, 19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron High Altitude Airdrop Mission Support center director, is responsible for training and equipping his team to go out the door and support operations around the globe.

Although the students flew on four daytime sorties to hone their techniques, this final test under low-light conditions could cause breathless anxiety for the novice.

“Everything is a little more difficult when you don’t have a whole lot of lighting,” Stout said. “We are visual creatures, so when we don’t have our eyes to give us 100 percent of our information, we have to rely on other things -- a lot of things will be done by feel.”

During these scenarios, the trainees learned to recognize and communicate with jumpers via hand signals to correct issues quickly. This allows jumpmasters to re-inspect them and continue their mission.

“Once they are on the road, they will probably see more nighttime missions than daytime missions, because that’s the way most of our special operations work; so we have to get used to working in that type of environment,” Stout said.

During previous training missions, there were a large number of jumpers on the aircraft, crowding the cargo area and making it more difficult for the students to move. The events challenge trainees to quickly and correctly assess jumpers’ gear in a busy, cramped workspace.

There is zero time to waste during special operations missions, said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kristopher Meadows, 19th AMDS HAAMS technician.

“The most difficult part of HAAMS is being able to complete all of the recommended tasks in a time efficient manner,” Meadows said. “The final flight went better than expected. It allowed us to put all of our new-found knowledge and training into action.”

The Strike Zone Bowling Alley is a place where Airmen, retirees and family members are able to let off some steam, forget about pressing responsibilities or invest in quality family time.

Recently, the bowling alley has undergone some changes to make it even more functional for its family-friendly atmosphere. One of the largest renovations is repairing the leaky roof.

“The bowling alley is in the process of getting a new roof,” said Kelley Kret, a 19th Force Support Squadron recreational assistant. “New roof panels are going to be installed so water can run down into the gutter instead of staying on the top of the roof.”

Prior to the renovation, staff members placed tarps in the ceiling tiles and attached hoses to let the water run down into buckets to prevent water from flooding the lanes. Some leaks over the lanes resulted in the temporary loss of the lane.

One improvement to the roofing system is the installation of the panels on top of the flat rooftop which are designed to prevent water damage.

“The new roof is supposed to be a little tilted and have a pitch to it,” Kret said. “Whenever it rains again, the water will slide right off instead of it staying on the roof and becoming stagnant.”

The five-month long construction project has left some of the bowling alley staff hopeful for more foot-traffic.

“I’m hoping people will see the construction and realize the bowling alley is being invested in,” said Susie Rawdon, 19th FSS bowling manager. “I’m expecting it’ll bring out more bowling leagues and more people will want to come and hang out here.”

For some of the staff members, the bowling alley is more than just a hang-out in need of a renovation.

“This facility provides an outlet for not just retirees and family members, but also for Airmen and technical school students,” Kret said. “It’s a place where they can go and have a good time without that risk of getting in trouble. I believe we should support our troops in any way that we can and I believe the bowling alley is a place where we can support them.”

For more about the Strike Zone Bowling Alley and its activities, call 501-987-3338 or visit www.rockinattherock.com.

Friday, October 23, 2015

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads
by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail
your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them
to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in
Friday’s issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Immediate Hire - $725 a week. Are you self-motivated?
Local company has 10-15 openings for air quality testers. No experience
necessary. No Layoffs. Call for an interview at (501) 605-1303.

Busy Internal Medicine Clinic in Jacksonville looking for
an energetic, positive, caring and computer savvy person for full time
receptionist position.Great phone
etiquette and computer skills are a must. Salaried position with benefits and great
work atmosphere. Fax or email your resume’ to: Attn: Vanessa – fax no.
501-241-2707 or email: vanessa.hendershot@npimed.com

LARGE PUBLIC AUCTION PONDER’S AUCTION
GALLERY- Sunday OCT 25th, Starting At10am. 1504 South Leslie st.
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contact J.E. Ponder, Auctioneer at 1-870-673-6551 or cell
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Installation Commander Col. Charles Brown Jr. hosts a Town Hall meeting from 6 - 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Walters Community Center. For those who are not able to attend, there will be an opportunity to participate via social media. See the base’s Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/LittleRockAirForceBase for more information.

Commissioning town hall meeting

The 19th Force Support Squadron hosts a commissioning town hall meeting at 1 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Walters Center ballroom. The meeting covers all of the different commissioning programs available and features a Q&A session with prior enlisted officers. Call 987-3417 for more information.

Month of the Military Family

November is Month of the Military Family and the Airman and Family Readiness Center marks the month with a Something For Everyone Extravaganza from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Warfit Track. The event feature games and activities where participants earn points for prizes. Prizes include trophies, bicycles and $500, $300 and $100 gift cards. A free lunch is served from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The day also includes a Littlest Warrior Pageant and We’ve Got Talent competitions that require signing up by Nov. 6. Call the A&FRC at 987-2667 to register. There will also be basketball and weight lifting competitions. Register for those events by sending an e-mail to afrc.events@gmail.com no later than Nov. 2. Registration must include unit name, contact number, team name and names of each member.

Retiree flu shots

Retirees ages 50 and over can get their flu shots at the 19th Medical Group Immunizations Clinic. The clinic is open 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call 987-2927 for more information.

Essay contest for military children

The Airman & Family Readiness Center sponsors an children’s essay contest with the topic “What’s the best thing about being a Military Kid?” as part of Military Family Month activities. Age categories are 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years and 11-12 years. Submissions must include: child’s and parent’s name, child’s age and contact phone number. Essays will be rated on creativity/originality, clear presentation of topic, structure/organization/grammar and style/emotional/appeal. Essays are due Oct. 26 and should be handwritten and dropped off at the Airman & Family Readiness Center inside the Walters Community Support Center. Winners will be announced at the Month of the Military Family event Nov. 7 and entrants must be present to win. Call the A&FRC at 987-2667 for more information.

Volunteers needed

Motivated volunteers are needed for the third annual Diversity Day slated for January. Planning meetings are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday in Bldg. 430 Passenger Room 1. The event will encompass all 10 federal observances, including Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Black History Month, and there are committees for each observance. For more information, email the event project officer, Capt. Tarah Mitchell, at tarah.mitchell.1@us.af.mil.

Scam alert

The Defense Health Agency, Office of Program Integri ty has identified a scam that is targeting TRICARE beneficiaries. This scam asks beneficiaries to become TRICARE “Secret Shoppers.” Beneficiaries may receive a letter along with a fake check from Wisconsin Physician Services in the amount of $3,775, along with instructions on what to do with the check. These letters and checks are bogus, and individuals who participate in the “program” may become liable for payment to the bank. For more information, see “TRICARE Beneficiaries Being Targeted by Fraudulent Secret Shopper Offer” at http://www.health.mil/News/. Beneficiaries who receive these fraudulent letters are asked to report them to DHA Program Integrity at http://www.health.mil.

Growing up knowing there is a hidden danger lurking outside your door is not a comforting thought as a child, teenager or young adult. For Allison Padgett, being aware of the dangers of breast cancer is something she’s dealt with since she was a young girl.

“My grandmother, aunts and mother all had breast cancer,” said Padgett, a staff sergeant assigned to the 714th Training Squadron as a C-130 loadmaster and instructor. “So there is a clear history of it in my family.”

As a young woman, Padgett made routine visits to the doctor for mammogram tests and biopsies. The tests brought up nothing of urgent concern until mid-2014.

“Doctors told me that precancerous cells may be present, but no clinical diagnosis could be made due to all the scar tissue I had,” Padgett said.

The scar tissue was formed from the multitude of biopsies that Padgett underwent throughout her life.“I consulted multiple doctors and three different surgeons told me the same thing,” Padgett said. “I could either wait for the prognosis to turn into something more serious or I could have a bilateral mastectomy performed.”

A bilateral mastectomy involves the removal of both breasts. The surgery greatly lowers the risk of developing cancer. For Padgett, it wasn’t a very difficult decision.

“I didn’t want what happened to my mother to happen to me,” Padgett said. “Her cancer progressed and she had to go through radiation and chemotherapy.”

A consummate professional and passionate about being a loadmaster, her career played a huge part in Padgett’s decision to get the mastectomy. Her no nonsense attitude that makes her a good noncommissioned officer has also helped her meet the challenges of beating cancer head on.

“I’m a take-charge flyer,” she said. “I like to be in control and secure my flying career. I could have gotten sick and diagnosed with cancer if I didn’t choose to have surgery. I wouldn’t be able to do my job. It would be soul-crushing to never fly again.”

In August of 2014, Padgett underwent the invasive surgery while stationed to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. The mastectomy went well but it was the first of many operations. Complications arose during multiple reconstructive surgeries.

Eventually, Padgett bounced back and received a clean bill of health before heading back to instructing loadmaster students.

Those who work and serve with Padgett admire her attitude toward the decision.

“I’ve never met anybody that would willingly give up so much to ensure their flying career or Air Force career,” said Senior Master Sgt. Randall Ransburgh, 714th TRS superintendent. “Her drive and commitment embodies service before self.”

For many people, cancer involves pain, fear or sadness. Padgett used it as a learning opportunity.“The whole experience taught me a lot,” said Padgett. “I never felt victimized. I was scared but I knew it didn’t have to be dramatic. I was terrified and there were moments of tears, but I’m just not the type to be very emotional.”

Being an advocate for breast cancer awareness is a very important to Padgett.

“I definitely encourage friends to get a check-up,” she said. “I participate in Race for the Cure and donate to Susan G. Komen when I can. I just appreciate life and people more.”

Now healthy, Padgett is still able to perform her job as an Air Force loadmaster instructor. She contributes to teaching approximately 1,400 students each year from over 40 different countries.

“I fly whenever I get the chance to,” Padgett said. “I love to instruct and I love teaching new students. That’s what it is all about. I may work with my students in deployed environments and it feels good knowing that I’ve helped teach them what they know. ”

Friday, October 16, 2015

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads
by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail
your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them
to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in
Friday╒s
issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Satellite TV under $1/day! Get Satellite TV installed at
NO COST and FREE HD/DVR Upgrade to new callers,

SO CALL NOW! 877-388-8577.**

HELP WANTED

Immediate Hire - $725 a week. Are you self-motivated?
Local company has 10-15 openings for air quality testers. No experience
necessary. No Layoffs. Call for an interview at (501) 605-1303.

Busy Internal Medicine Clinic in Jacksonville looking for
an energetic, positive, caring and computer savvy person for full time
receptionist position. Great phone etiquette and computer skills are a must.
Salaried position with benefits and great work atmosphere. Fax or email your
resume╒
to: Attn: Vanessa ╨ fax no. 501-241-2707 or email:
vanessa.hendershot@npimed.com

DRIVERS- ATTN: OTR Drivers! Looking for a great new
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for more details 800-332-5551. Or visit our website DiamondStateTrucking.com.**

SECURITAS SECURITY OFFICERS - NOW HIRING FT & PT
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Installation Commander Col. Charles Brown Jr. hosts a Town Hall meeting from 6 - 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Walters Community Center. For those who are not able to attend, there will be an opportunity to participate via social media. See the base’s Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/LittleRockAirForceBase for more information.

Commissioning town hall meeting

The 19th Force Support Squadron hosts a commissioning town hall meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 in the Walters Center ballroom. The meeting covers all of the different commissioning programs available and features a Q&A session with prior enlisted officers. Call 987-3417 for more information.

Month of the Military Family

November is Month of the Military Family and the Airman and Family Readiness Center marks the month with a Something For Everyone Extravaganza from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Warfit Track. The event feature games and activities where participants earn points for prizes. Prizes include trophies, bicycles and $500, $300 and $100 gift cards. A free lunch is served from 11a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The day also includes a Littlest Warrior Pageant and We’ve Got Talent competitions that require signing up by Nov. 6. Call the A&FRC at 987-2667 to register. There will also be basketball and weight lifting competitions. Register for those events by sending an e-mail to afrc.events@gmail.com no later than Nov. 2. Registration must include unit name, contact number, team name and names of each member.

Retiree flu shots

Retirees ages 50 and over can now get their flu shots at the 19th Medical Group Immunizations Clinic. The clinic is open 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call 987-2927 for more information.

Essay contest for military children

The Airman and Family Readiness Center sponsors an children’s essay contest with the topic “What’s the best thing about being a Military Kid?” as part of Military Family Month activities. Age categories are 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years and 11-12 years. Submissions must include: child’s and parent’s name, child’s age and contact phone number. Essays will be rated on creativity/originality, clear presentation of topic, structure/organization/grammar and style/emotional/appeal. Essays are due Oct. 26 and should be handwritten and dropped off at the Airman and Family Readiness Center inside the Walters Community Support Center. Winners will be announced at the Month of the Military Family event Nov. 7 and entrants must be present to win. Call the A&FRC at 501-987-2667 for more information.

Volunteers needed

Motivated volunteers are needed for the third annual Diversity Day slated for January. Planning meetings are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday in Bldg. 430 Passenger Room 1. The event will encompass all 10 federal observances, including Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Black History Month, and there are committees for each observance. For more information, email the event project officer, Capt. Tarah Mitchell, at tarah.mitchell.1@us.af.mil.

Most bowlers step up to the line for the first roll of the game hoping it will be their first “perfect game.”

That was not the case when U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Anthony Szeluga, a loadmaster assigned to the 50th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, shocked the crowd of bowling enthusiasts during a tournament on Oct. 8, 2015, when he bowled a perfect 300. Szeluga was thinking it might be number eight. And, it was.

The final score for the 4-person team was 821, and it was enough for the 50th AS team to take first place in the Session 1 Bowling Tournament.

Asked if he ever considered becoming a professional bowler, Szeluga responded, “I thought about it when I was a kid. However, after I grew up I knew I wasn’t good enough to be a professional.”

The 50th AS team consisted of Szeluga, Senior Airmen Steven Bargmann and Tiffany Raimes, 50th AS crew chief and loadmaster and Cory Wright, 61st AS loadmaster.

Bowling for 22 years, Szeluga’s father started coaching him at the age five and supported by taking him bowling on weekends.

”I have traveled throughout the United States going to youth tournaments and was lucky enough to receive a bowling scholarship to Martin Methodist College, where I was part of the bowling team and earned my bachelor’s degree in history,” Szeluga said.

Passionate about being a loadmaster, Szeluga has no plans of becoming an Air Force officer, even though he has a college degree.

While Szeluga loves what he does, work can still be stressful. CareerCast.com lists “Enlisted Military Personnel” as the #2 of “Most Stressful Jobs of 2015.” A “Military General” is #3. For Szeluga, bowling is stress relief, most of the time.

“Bowling can be either relaxing and enjoyable, or frustrating and unbearable,” Szeluga said. “It all depends on the seriousness of the person. I do not take bowling lightly. For me, the hardest part is the science behind the game; knowing all the little things to adjust to put yourself in a better scoring situation.”

His knowledge and experience of the game are not taken for granted; Szeluga passes the lessons of his father on to others.

“When tournaments approach throughout the year, my key for success is to practice and to have fun,” Szeluga said. “After all, it is just a game. I learned a lot in my youth and today I teach others so they too might have a chance to have some of the opportunities that I did.”

Depending on who you ask, some may say there is nothing to do at Little Rock Air Force Base. Ask Nathan Koppersmith though, and you may be surprised at just how much there is available. He’s Outdoor Recreation’s new Outdoor Adventure program coordinator, and the list of events and activities he’s planning is extensive for both on-base and off-base adventure.

Under his direction, there are two zombie hunts available Friday and Nov. 6, trips to a trampoline park and a Christmas tree farm in the works, as well as day hikes, kayak trips and more. To celebrate the cooler weather, there will be a Family Fun Night Oct. 30 behind Outdoor Recreation’s building 656 on 6th Street that will be reminiscent of fall festivals.

“We’ll have bouncy houses, hay rides, free hamburgers and hot dogs, apple cider and hot cocoa, and do our best to get candy for the kids as well,” Koppersmith said. “It’s a free event all around.

“There’s a trampoline park in downtown Little Rock; you can go there and jump on trampolines, play dodgeball, basketball, jump in the foam pit, do flips – all kinds of crazy stuff,” he added. “Adults can bring their kids and have all kinds of fun.”

Planning these trips since he first reported on the job in August, Koppersmith’s goal is to get people out of the dorms and off the base to see the sights and activities of the Natural State.

“We got some good feedback from the surveys we sent out recently,” he said, “And we are trying to revamp things now. We are trying to find as many new things as we can and jam pack them into our schedule. Our goal is to have two trips a month, but in the spring or summer we might have more than that.

“We are doing a day hike to Mount Magazine Nov. 14; then we are doing a trip to a Christmas tree farm Nov. 28,” he added. “There’s a petting zoo and train rides for the kids, so your whole family can go. We will actually bring your tree back to base on a trailer, then you can take it home from there.”

In January he’s planning a geocaching – treasure hunting with a GPS – trip; in February he is coordinating a “Breakout and Escape” event where participants are locked in a room with a set of clues to help them get out before the time’s up.

Some other highlights of what’s to come include the Warrior Dash, a 5k Mud Run in the summer; a guided fishing trip; and a two-day hog hunt when it’s warmer outside.

Anyone with suggestions for trips or activities can post them on Outdoor Recreation’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/19FSSODR. Koppersmith suggested participants give them likes and comments on Outdoor Recreation activities they’ve done and would like to do again.

Friday, October 2, 2015

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads
by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail
your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them
to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in
Friday’s issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

EMERGENCIES can strike at any time. Wise Food Storage
makes it easy to prepare withtasty, easy-to-cook mealsthat have a 25-year shelf life. FREE SAMPLE. Call: 800-714-6433.**

HELP WANTED

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Local company has 10-15 openings for air quality testers. No experience
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PART-TIME POSITION - Ophthalmology/Optometry clinic is
searching for just the right person to join our team in North Pulaski county.
Must be energetic, detailed oriented and outgoing. Will train. You may email
your resume to:manager@jacksonvilleeyedocs.com or fax to 501-985-0715.

As of Oct. 1, a new law now requires all TRICARE beneficiaries, except active-duty service members, to get select brand name maintenance drugs through either TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or from a military pharmacy.

Maintenance drugs are prescriptions that are taken regularly for a long time, such as drugs to control blood pressure or cholesterol. The new law does not apply to drugs you take for a short time, like antibiotics, or generic drugs. Beneficiaries living overseas, or with other prescription drug coverage, are not affected.

Beneficiaries who keep using a retail pharmacy for these drugs will have to pay costs in their entirety.

The Little Rock AFB pharmacy expects a 10-percent increase in the amount of prescriptions that they will fill.

“We fill upwards of 1,000 prescriptions per day here,” said Capt. Andrew Tate, 19th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy operations director. “The pharmacy will begin to include and stock more medications. We encourage our customers to be patient. We will also experiment with new operation processes to be efficient as possible.”

The TRICARE pharmacy contractor, Express Scripts, is sending a letter to beneficiaries taking an affected drug, explaining their options. To check if you are affected, call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303.

Beneficiaries still filling an affected drug at a retail pharmacy will receive another letter informing them of the change to the benefit. After that, beneficiaries have one final “courtesy” fill at a retail pharmacy. If they fill at a retail pharmacy again, they have to pay 100-percent of the cost of their medication.

TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery is a safe, convenient and low cost option to get maintenance drugs. You can get up to a 90-day supply, as opposed to a 30-day supply from a retail pharmacy. You save up to $176 a year for every brand name drug you switch to Home Delivery. Military pharmacies offer up to a 90-day supply of drugs with zero copay, but not all drugs are available. You can check with the Little Rock Air Force Base pharmacy to see if they carry your prescription.

For more information about this change to TRICARE’s pharmacy benefit, visit www.tricare.mil/RxNewRules.

Local community members from businesses and organizations surrounding the base reported at base operations with a 6:30 a.m. show time, Friday, September 25, for a special mission.

Their goal – to learn first-hand about the Air Force’s mission and how they, as civic leaders, can work with Team Little Rock to mutually support their communities and the base.

Approximately 25 men and women from towns like Cabot, Sherwood, Jacksonville and Little Rock took part in the annual Team Little Rock Civic Leader Tour which gave the local leaders a chance to fly aboard a 19th Airlift Wing C-130J see another base’s mission up close.

Participants in this year’s tour hopped a C-130J flown by Team Little Rock Commander Col. Charles Brown Jr. to Dyess AFB, Texas, to meet with 7th Bomb Wing and 317th Airlift Group leaders and learn about their base’s mission and how they work with the Abilene, Texas community. Dyess’ story is much the same as LRAFB, as Abilene provided land for the base, like Jacksonville did for LRAFB. Both communities continue their close ties with their respective bases through partnerships and sharing resources.

“My favorite part of the experience was spending time in the cockpit of the C-130. It was such a unique thing to do. I enjoyed the views, learning about the equipment and visiting with the pilots,” said Haley Lagassé, Central Arkansas Library System Head of Public Services and Main Library.

Colonel Brown, Chief Master Sgt. Rhonda Buening, 19th Airlift Wing Command Chief; John Steele, 19th Mission Support Group deputy commander and the civic leaders then joined Dyess leaders for a stop at the B-1 bomber simulator; lunch with Dyess Military Affairs Committee members; and a quick weapons demonstration before touring the base and ending with a walk through of a B-1 bomber in the flesh.

“When I saw the C-130, B-1 simulator and the actual B-1 aircraft and its associated avionics equipment, it reinforced the theory I teach in the classrooms with practical military applications,” said Harding University, Associate Professor Charles Wu who teaches circuits, electronics, digital signal processing and communication theory.

After flying back to Little Rock, Lagassé said she was impressed by the hospitality displayed by all of the Air Force personnel, and it was interesting to hear from Dyess about their frequent deployments.

“It was obvious throughout the day, the sense of comradery that base personnel have with each other, and I learned more about how the Air Force intentionally cultivates that from personnel at Dyess,” she added. “I enjoyed learning about the community partnerships both bases have with other organizations in their respective communities.”